Dominik Strycharski / Sarah Claman / Zbigniew Chojnacki / Ramon Prats

A crucial instance of seizing the opportunity this informed improvisation was put together after the four principals had recently collaborated only thrice. Yet the quality of the resulting aggregate sounds validates this initial recording date. From Barcelona are drummer Ramon Prats, who has worked with the likes of Agustí Fernández and Albert Cirera; and violinist Sarah Claman, a New Zealander who moves between improvised and notated music. From Warsaw comes accordion player Zbigniew Chojnacki, who has played with Adam Pierończyk and Joëlle Leandre among others; and Dominik Strycharski known for his mastery of blockflutes and recorders, who besides leading his own groups is a theatre music composer.

Although the instrumental mix may be unprecedented, the four attain complementary congruence by “Vend”, the second track, Quartet Non Locality’s nearly 20-minute showpiece. As Strycharski’s Pan-pipe-like puffs meld with eddying spiccato runs from Claman, a concentrated horizontal narrative emerges, affirmed through pauses and false starts with growling bellows action from Chojnacki and Prats’ subtle clip-clops. Intermingling as the four’s challenging variations slide up and down in speed and pitch, the theme swells in its concluding passages. Polyphonically mixing swift string glissandi and a martial beat, it suggests how a soundtrack that adds Jazz inflections to the sounds of a military procession would sound.

The remainder of the CD consists of the quartet trying out duo and trio configurations. In double or triple counterpoint, the accordionist occasionally adds granular tweets and tweaks from bolstering electronics; Strycharski alternates Phil Minton-like verbal retches with whispering cries from his instruments’ bird-like cries; the fiddler propels jumping glissandi and slice slices; while Prats’ backing consist of rolls and rumbles.

Moving between dissonant sound splinters and ricocheting connections the group reaches a pressurized finale with “Wahi”. This wraps together the sonic flavors advanced from Strycharski clarion block flute flutters, the accordionist’s tremolo squeaks and Claman’s staccato string slides all of which settle alongside ringing percussion pops.

With a singular session like this working so well, perhaps the Spanish-Polish associates should meet again.

–Ken Waxman

Track Listing: 1. Lage 2. Vend 3. Ubicació 4. Vieta 5. Lugar 6. Sebaka 7. Wahi

Personnel: Dominik Strycharski (blockflutes and recorders); Sarah Claman (violin); Zbigniew Chojnacki (accordion and live electronics) and Ramon Prats (drums)

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